Daily Archives: December 6, 2017

H&H recommends all riders (yes that includes you John Whitaker!) wear hats while mounted

Once upon a time, Olympia was an excuse for riders to let their hair down, embrace the Christmas spirit and dress up in frivolous costumes in the annual fancy dress relay.

Many riders returned year after year — John Whitaker, we’re looking at you — to entertain the crowds with their antics in the saddle. Forget the World Cup qualifier, the battle to end all battles came down to who could produce the best costume.

We take a look back through the H&H vaults to bring you some of our favourite fancy dress moments…

1. Perfect Pocahontas: AKA John Whitaker in 1985. The Yorkshireman seems to be proudly showing off his boots but we’re more impressed by the ample bosom!

2. Brace yourself for the Full Monty: Geoff Billington, John Whitaker, Nick Skelton and Michael Whitaker reveal much more than we’re used to seeing in their Chippendales tribute act.

9. The name’s Goosen. Guy Goosen. James Bond 007 is licensed to thrill the crowds in 1995

10. Marie Edgar unleashes her inner jockey and speeds round in her silks

11. He’s back! John Whitaker once again — this time in his finest leopardprint outfit. Grrrrrrr

12. And again — we know who would be the first to sign up, should the fancy dress relay ever make a comeback at Olympia. In this year, John Whitaker sports his conical bra in his Madonna tribute act on board the great (and long suffering) Randi.